Baseball cards have been a popular collectible for over a century, with some dating all the way back to the late 1800s. While most baseball cards hold little monetary value, there are certainly some from recent years that could be worth a significant amount of money on the current market. Let’s take a look at some of the top baseball cards from 2022 that collectors should be on the lookout for.

One of the most valuable baseball cards available on the market right now is the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle PSA 10 Gem Mint. This iconic Mantle rookie card is considered the crown jewel of baseball cards and consistently sells for record-breaking prices. Just last year, a PSA 10 example sold for an astounding $12.6 million, shattering all previous records. While most collectors will never own a true gem mint Mantle rookie, even lower grade copies can fetch six figures.

For slightly more attainable high-dollar cards, the 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Auto Refractor Patch Mike Trout PSA 10 is a great option. Trout has cemented himself as one of the greatest players of all time and his rookie cards have followed suit. This ultra-rare parallel autographed patch card in a PSA 10 gem mint slab recently sold for over $900,000, showing Trout’s cards still have plenty of upside. Other high-end Trout rookies like his 2009 Bowman Chrome or Topps Update rookie refractor can also reach well into the five figures.

For collectors looking to spend under $10,000 but still acquire a truly elite modern card, the 2018 Bowman Chrome Blue Wave Auto Vladimir Guerrero Jr. PSA 10 is a solid investment. Still just 23 years old, Guerrero Jr. has already established himself as a perennial MVP candidate and his cards have followed quickly. This scarce autographed blue parallel recently sold for $8,500 and has plenty of room to appreciate further as Vlad’s career progresses. His 2018 Topps Chrome Update Yellow Auto PSA 10 can also be found in the $5,000 range.

For those wanting to target rookie cards of today’s emerging young stars before they break out, cards like the 2021 Topps Chrome Auto Refractor Ronald Acuña Jr. PSA 10 Gem Mint and the 2021 Bowman Chrome Auto Refractor Juan Soto PSA 10 are worth consideration in the $2,000-$3,000 range. Both Acuña and Soto have superstar potential and their rookie cards could explode even higher with a few more MVP-caliber seasons. The 2021 Topps Chrome Auto Refractor Fernando Tatis Jr. PSA 10 also fits in this tier at around $2,500 given his already elite play through just a few seasons.

Stepping down slightly from true gem mint 10s, 9.5 PSA or BGS graded examples of the above cards can often be found for 30-50% less. This allows collectors to acquire virtually flawless examples of these premier rookies for slightly more affordable prices in the $1,000-$2,000 range. Cards like the 2018 Bowman Chrome Blue Wave Vladimir Guerrero Jr. PSA 9.5 or the 2021 Topps Chrome Auto Refractor Ronald Acuña Jr. BGS 9.5/10 represent great options at this level.

For those willing to target cards outside the true “big three” modern rookies of Acuña, Tatis and Soto, there are also plenty of emerging young stars who could pay dividends down the road. Cards like the 2021 Topps Chrome Auto Refractor Wander Franco PSA 10 ($1,000+), 2021 Topps Chrome Auto Refractor Shane Baz PSA 10 ($800+), or 2021 Bowman Chrome Auto Refractor Julio Rodriguez PSA 10 ($700+) offer exposure to talented players who haven’t fully broken out yet. With a few All-Star seasons, any of these could multiply in value significantly.

Stepping down the ladder of risk versus reward, modern rookie cards of established young stars in the $200-$500 range also warrant consideration. This may include cards like the 2018 Topps Chrome Auto Refractor Shohei Ohtani PSA 10, 2019 Topps Chrome Update Auto Refractor Pete Alonso PSA 10, or 2020 Topps Chrome Auto Refractor Luis Robert PSA 10. While less volatile than pre-breakout players, these proven talents could still appreciate nicely with award-winning seasons or playoff appearances.

For those willing to target cards outside the true “gem mint” PSA 10 or BGS 9.5/10 tier, there are also deals to be had on high-quality 9s or lower graded examples. Often these can be acquired for 30-60% less than pristine examples. This allows collecting superstar rookies like Mike Trout, Ronald Acuña Jr. or Juan Soto for under $1,000 in many cases. Just be aware of any potential grading or centering issues holding the card back from that elusive 10 grade.

While it’s impossible to predict the next true investment-grade card, targeting modern rookies or early career parallels and autographs of proven and emerging young superstars offers a solid strategy. Acquiring pristine PSA 10 or BGS 9.5+ examples when possible provides the best chance of long term appreciation. But even top-graded 9s can offer an affordable entry point into the cards of today’s elite talents. With patience and a watchful eye on their careers, the right modern rookie could pay dividends for years to come.